Gridiron Great G5 Top 25 – 2014

(RECAP)

3).   Marshall (10 – 3) CUSA  Predicted  2014 Finish (12-0) Bowl eligible

4).   ECU (10 – 4) AAC,  Predicted  2014 Finish (10-4) Bowl eligible 

5).   NIU (12 – 2) MAC,  Predicted  2014 Finish (10-2) Bowl eligible 

6).   Cincinnati (9 – 4) AAC,  Predicted  2014 Finish (10-2) Bowl eligible 

7).   North Texas (9 – 4) CUSA,  Predicted  2014 Finish (10-2) Bowl eligible

8).   Utah State (9 – 5) MWC, Predicted  2014 Fini8sh (9-3) Bowl eligible

9)    Toledo (7-5) MAC,  Predicted  2014 Finish (9-3) Bowl eligible

10)  Louisiana-Lafayette (9 – 4) SBC Predicted 2014 Finish (10-2) Bowl eligible

11)  Rice (11 – 4) CUSA   Predicted 2014 Finish (9-3) Bowl eligible

12)  San Diego State (8 – 5) MWC  Predicted 2014 Finish (10-2) Bowl eligible

13)   Ball State (10 – 3) MAC Predicted 2014 Finish (9-3) Bowl eligible

14)   Houston (8 – 5) AAC Predicted 2014 Finish (9-3) Bowl eligible

15)   Middle Tennessee (8 – 5) CUSA Predicted 2014 Finish (9-3) Bowl eligible

16)   Navy (9 – 4) IND, Predicted 2014 Finish (9-3) Bowl

17)   Western Kentucky (8 – 4) CUSA Predicted 2014 Finish (8-4) Bowl eligible

18)   Boise State (8 – 5) MAC  Predicted 2014 Finish (8-4) Bowl eligible

19)   Tulane (7 – 5) AAC  Predicted 2014 Finish (7-5) Bowl eligible

20)   Arkansas State (8 – 5) SBC  Predicted 2014 Finish (9-3) Bowl eligible

21)   Bowling Green (10 – 4) MAC Predicted 2014 Finish (7-5) Bowl eligible

22)   Colorado State (8 – 6) MWC Predicted 2014 Finish (7-5) Bowl eligible

23)   BYU (7-5) IND Predicted 2014 Finish (7-5) Bowl eligible  

24)   UTSA (7-5) CUSA Predicted 2014 Finish (7-5) Bowl eligible

25)   ODU (8-4) CUSA Predicted 2014 Finish (7-5) Bowl eligible

Simmering Six (Just missed the Top 25)
26). San Jose State (6-6), MWC
27). UNLV (7-6) MWC
28). Louisiana Tech 4 -8 CUSA
29). Wyoming (5-7) MWC
30). Buffalo (8-5) MAC
31). Ohio (7-6) MAC

Pre Pre Top 25 … http://wp.me/p4wbqJ-6n 

Today, Tuesday June 3, 2014 we will reveal # 3 in the TOP 25 G5 FBS programs projected for the 2014 Football season.  Each day starting at the bottom #25 we will give an introduction about each team until we get to #1.

The Gridirons Great G5’s of 2014 (TOP 25) Introducing # 3

     

3).   Marshall (10 – 3) CUSA, Doc Holiday 27–24–0 (.529) will be leading the thundering herd into their 5^th year under his leadership.  They play in the 38,227 seat Joan C. Edwards Field.  Marshall has a much storied history that dates back to 1895 and with an overall record of 552–524–47 (.512).  Success has not only been achieved at the confines of Edwards Field  but at the bowl level as well, winning 11 of the 14 bowl games they have been invited to participate in (.786).   With the success of last year and the end of the year victory over Maryland in the Military Bowl they will have a kick start into the 2014 season.  They could potentially go undefeated, If that is achieved an access bowl maybe in Marshall’s future.  Concerns over strength of schedule may become an issue, however of the likely candidates at the G5 level. remember they have to win and win big to have a claim over an undefeated Marshall team.  Without putting the horse before the cart. well let’s take two steps back. 

Marshall is a legitimate Top 25 team in anyone’s poll.  There are 39 former three-star recruits returning this year and three former four-stars. That is a level of recruiting no one in CUSA can match.  This year they also return an NFL prospect quarterback, Rakeem Cato, and two of the most explosive running backs in conference, two all-conference offensive linemen, and nine starters from a defense that recorded 102 tackles for losses and improved in every aspect from 2012.

With a recruiting class that ranked again at the top of CUSA and toward the top of the 128 teams listed as FBS programs the future is bright for the Herd.   Marshall fans will be disappointed if they don’t go undefeated.  At that point we can jump back on the carriage and see where we are headed.

2014 Marshall Thundering Herd Football Schedule Predictions (12-0)
Date		Opponent	Predictions
Saturday Aug. 30	at Miami (OH) RedHawks Yager Stadium, Oxford, OH	TBA	W
Saturday Sept. 6	Rhode Island Rams Joan C. Edwards Stadium, Huntington, WV	6:30 p.m. ET TV TBA	W
Saturday Sept. 13	Ohio Bobcats Joan C. Edwards Stadium, Huntington, WV	12:00 p.m. ET CBSSN	W
Saturday Sept. 20	at Akron Zips InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field, Akron, OH	TBA	W
Saturday Sept. 27	—	Open Date	—
Saturday Oct. 4	at Old Dominion Monarchs Foreman Field, Norfolk, VA	Time TBA FS1 or FSN	W
Saturday Oct. 11	Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Joan C. Edwards Stadium, Huntington, WV	Time TBA FS1 or FSN	W
Saturday Oct. 18	at FIU Golden Panthers FIU Stadium, Miami, FL	TBA	W
Saturday Oct. 25	Florida Atlantic Owls Joan C. Edwards Stadium, Huntington, WV	7:00 p.m. ET FCS	W
Saturday Nov. 1	—	Open Date	—
Saturday Nov. 8	at Southern Miss Golden Eagles M.M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, MS	TBA	W
Saturday Nov. 15	Rice Owls Joan C. Edwards Stadium, Huntington, WV	Time TBA FS1 or FSN	W
Saturday Nov. 22	at UAB Blazers Legion Field, Birmingham, AL	TBA	W
Friday Nov. 28	Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Joan C. Edwards Stadium, Huntington, WV	12:00 p.m. ET FOX Sports 1	W